KUCHING: The Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) has expressed support for the government’s decision to delay the commencement of next year’s new school session to Jan 20.
“The new date is appropriate after taking into account the delayed and shorter period for this year’s year-end school break,” said its president Ahmad Malie in a statement yesterday.
He urged teachers and parents to accept the announcement with an open heart.
Senior Education Minister Dr Radzi Jidin, in announcing the decision in Parliament on Tuesday, said, “It was to make up for the 2020 year-end school break which would be cut short, as well as the delay in the year-end examinations due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the movement control order (MCO).”
Radzi said this applied to all schools nationwide.
According to the minister, public examinations such as Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM) examinations had also been postponed to the first week of 2021.
Form Five students who will sit for SPM will do so from Jan 6 to Feb 9 next year instead of the previously scheduled dates of Nov 16 to Dec 7 this year.
Ahmad said KGBS is confident that the Ministry of Education had given due consideration to various factors before coming to the decision.
On a separate development, Ahmad urged school principals and headmasters to be more mindful of the welfare of teachers pertaining to the date change.
“Do not call the teachers under your charge to return to school too early from the date of the new school session.”
KGBS had also requested the understanding of the Education Ministry to help remind the principals and headmasters to give due consideration to this matter.
